Display case



Aug. 15, 1939. D, MaCMASTER 2,169,347

DISPLAY CASE Filed March 18, 1938 if INVENTO Patented Aug. 15, 1939UNITED STA ZFES iF ATENT OFFIQE DESPLAY CASE tion of New JerseyApplication March 13,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to display cases generally, but more particularlyto refrigerated display cases in which perishable foods are displayed.

Refrigerated display cases must be lighted to pleasingly and eifectivelydisplay the food in them, but at the same time care must be taken toprevent the rays of light striking the eyes of a customer looking at thefood in the case.

The object of my invention is to provide means for lighting the interiorof the case efiectively, and at the same time shield the eyes of aperson standing in front of the case from the light rays.

My invention consists in providing such a display case with a lightsource, a reflector for the light, and a shield to prevent the lightrays from striking the eyes of one looking into the case. My inventionconsists further in a shield of such construction that the lightinglamps may be readily renewed; and my invention consists further in theparts and combination of parts herein after described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portion of a display caseembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2-42, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of an end portion of the shield.

The display case designated by the numeral i may be of any desiredconstruction or design having a front window 2, the upper edge of whichis supported by the top structure of the case.

According to my invention I overlay the top of the case with an enameledmetal plate 3 which extends forwardly beyond the top of the window as at4 and terminates in a downwardly extending flange 5, having an inwardlyextending flange 1. This top plate is provided with a rib 5 to preventarticles from falling from the top, thus protecting the glass window andpreventing chipping of the porcelain finish of the case.

A bracket 8 is secured to the top structure at one end and extendsforwardly, under, but spaced from the portion i of the top plate. Abracket 9 is secured at one end to the upper face of the bracket 8 andextends forwardly beyond the outer end of the bracket 8, thencedownwardly as at M, thence inwardly to form a flange l i which extendsunder but is spaced from the forward end portion of the bracket 3.

A light shield 12 is formed at its upper edge in a substantiallyL-shape, the portion I3 fitting loosely and unattached thereto betweenthe forward end of the bracket 8 and the flange ll, while the portion [4lies loosely between, but un- 1933, Serial No. 196,787

attached thereto, the forward edge of the bracket 8 and the flange [0whereby the weight of the shield is loosely supported by the flange i lof the bracket 8. This shield is provided near its lower edge with asuitable fastener, such, for instance, as a snap fastener l5 whichdetachably engages the keeper [5 which is secured to the end wall of thecase.

The shield, as shown, extends the entire length of the window and ismovable outwardly at its lower edge, suflicient to enable the lamps ofthe case to be renewed.

A lamp socket i1 is secured to the bracket 8 for the lamp l3, and areflector I9 is rigidly secured to the bracket 8. The lamps arepreferably arranged at intervals along the case in groups of 2 and aseparate immoval reflector is provided for each group of lamps.

The shield is preferably coated on its inner face with a light absorbingcolor, such, for instance, as black.

It will be seen that the shield l2 extends materially below the lampsand the reflectors, and also below the top portion of the window wherebyrays of light from the reflector or lamp are prevented from hitting theeyes of a person standing in front of the case examining the fooddisplayed therein. The front glass of display cases of this type havingthe outside lighting heretofore employed had a tendency to reflect thelight back to the eyes of a customer. These reflections are entirelyeliminated by the use of my improved continuous shield l2. It will benoted that by reason of the non-reflecting inner face of the shield thatit will not throw any reflection onto the window 2.

What I claim is:

1. In a display case of the character described having a front window, atop plate projecting forwardly beyond said window and having a dependingreturn bent forward end, a bracket rigidly suspended beneath said topplate, a second bracket rigidly secured at its rear end to the firstnamed bracket, with its forward end having a return bend positionedbelow and spaced from the forward edge of the first named bracket, alamp socket supported by the first named bracket, a lamp in said socket,a rigidly mounted light reflector for said lamp, and a shield detachablysupported at its upper edge between the forward end of said brackets anddepending in front of said window below the reflector to shield the eyesof a person standing in front of the case from the rays of light fromsaid lamp.

2. In a display case of the character described having a front window, atop plate projecting forwardly beyond said window and having a dependingreturn bent forward end, a bracket rigidly suspended from beneath saidtop plate, a second bracket rigidly secured at its rear end to the firstnamed bracket, with its forward end having a return bend positionedbelow and spaced from the forward edge of the first named bracket, alamp socket supported by the first named bracket, a lamp in said socket,a rigidly mounted light reflector for said lamp, and a shield having asubstantially L-shaped upper edge detachably positioned between freeends of the said first and second named brackets and depending in frontof said window to a point below said reflector and lamp to shield theeyes of a person standing in front of the case from the rays of light ofthe said lamp.

3. In a display case of the character described having a front window, atop plate projecting forwardly beyond said window and having a dependingreturn bent forward end, a bracket rigidly secured beneath said topplate, a second bracket rigidly secured at its rear end to the firstnamed bracket, having at its forward end a depending return bend, a lampsocket supported by the first named bracket, a lamp in said socket, arigidly mounted light reflector for said lamp, and a shield extendingthe entire length of the window, having a substantially L-shaped upperedge detachably positioned between the forward ends of the said firstand second named brackets and above said return bend of the top plateand depending in front of said window to a point below said reflectorand lamp to shield the eyes of a person standing in front of the casefrom the rays of light of the said lamp.

FRANK D. MACMASTER.

